Wire coating die



Nov. 12, 1963 c. F. BETTNER WIRE COATING DIE Filed July 21, 1960 Fig; 5.

INVENTOR. CARL F. BETTN ER ATTORNEYS BY !wmwm SMUJM United States Patent3,110,625 WIRE CGATING DIE Carl F. Bettner, Waldron, Shelby County, Ind.Filed July 21, 1960, Ser. No. 44,331 11 Claims. (Cl. 118-125) Thisinvention is related generally to the coating of wire, and particularlyto dies for applying coating materials to wire.

Conventional dies used in the coating and enameling of wire have severalserious disadvantages. For example, they tend to wear out rapidly,requiring frequent replacement and also causing uneven application ofcoating material to wire. Even new dies are incapable of applying aneven coating to a wire. Moreover, conventional dies are quitesusceptible to damage, particularly when a wire splice passes throughthem.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a die for thecoating of wire which has an extended useful life.

It is another object of this invention to provide a die for the coatingof wire capable of uniform application of coating material to wire as itpasses through.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an exceptionallyrugged die for the coating of wire.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a die havingan opening which is maintained constantly the same in operation. 1

This invention includes in its scope a formed metal holder supporting agenerally cylindrical hollow bushing of durable construction. Thebushing is composed of two halves which are held together due to aresilient characteristic of the holder. Alignment of the two halves ofthe bushing is maintained by means of a locking tang and recesscombination incorporated as a part of the holder.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

FIG. 1 shows a top view of a typical embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a section taken along the axis of the bushing used in theembodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows a section taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

Referring particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a bushing holder havingside walls 11 and 12 with in- Wardly extending top portions 13 and 14.The inner lateral margins 16 and 17 of the top portions 13 and 14,respectively face each other on opposite sides of a plane parallel tothe side walls and equidistant between them. There is a semicircularcutaway area in each of the top portions 13 and 14 which receive andsupport the two halves 18 and 19, of the bushing 26.

There are two inwardly extending intermediate portions 21 and 22 whichextend inwardly from the walls 11 and 12 at a level between the bottomand the top portions of the bushing holder 10. The intermediate portion21 has a recess therein defined by the sides 23 and 24 to receive aprojection of the intermediate portion 22. The walls or sides 26 and 27of the projection of the portion 22 fit snugly against the sides 23 and24 of the recess and prevent any movement between the two halves 18 and19 of the bushing 20 in the direction of the plane dividing them.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the die of FIG. 1. The two halves 18 and 19of the bushing are held together as a result of tension provided by thebottom portion 28 joining the two side walls 11 and 12. The bottomportion 28 has a slot 29 therein to receive the wire which passesthrough the bushing during the coating process.

'ice

Referring to FIG. 3, which is a side view of the die of FIG. 1, thelongitudinal margins 31 and 32 of those portions of the side walls whichadjoin the top portions are clearly illustrated. FIG. 4 shows a sectionthrough the axis of the bushing 20. The bushing has a cylindricaloutside surface 33 and has one end which is a spherical surface 34. Aninner cylindrical surface 36, which is coaxial with the exterior surface33, intercepts the spherical surface 34 in a circle. A frusto-conicalsurface 37, having an axis on the axis of the exterior surface 33,intercepts the inner cylindrical surface 36 at a circle 38. Thisconstruction of the inside of the bushing provides for an even removalof the excess coating material from wire as it passes upwardly throughthe bushing, leaving an evenly coated wire above the bushing as itleaves the bushing. A circumferential groove 39 in the exterior surfaceof the bushing provides for a secure mounting in the semicircularcutaway areas of the top portions 13 and 14 of the bushing holder 10.

FIG. 5 shows the typical construction of the bottom portion 28,particularly illustrating the slot 29 which is terminated by thegenerally circular opening 41. The opening 41 has its center directlybelow the opening in the bushing 20 of FIG. 1.

While the bushing is split into halves to facilitate placing the wire inposition, the halves are held together due to the spring effect of theconfiguration of the bottom portion 23. "To guarantee uniformapplication of coating material to the wire as it passes through thebushing it is essential that the two halves be kept perfectly aligned sothat the cylindrical surface 36 is uniform about one center. Thisperfect alignment is maintained by the locking tang in the intermediateportion 22, which is received snugly in the recess of the intermediateportion 21. The bushing is extremely durable, rugged and has anunusually long life.

While the invention has been disclosed and described in some detail inthe drawings and foregoing description, they are to be considered asillustrative and not restrictive in character, as modifications mayreadily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art and within thebroad scope of the invention, reference being had to the appendedclaims.

The invention claimed is:

l. A die for use in the coating of wires and comprising: a pair ofupright side walls spaced apart; a bottom portion disposed between saidwalls; an opening into a longitudinal margin of the bottom portion; apair of top portions, each extending inwardly from an outer lateralmargin at a side wall, and having an inner lateral margin facing theinner lateral margin of the top portion extending inwardly from theopposite side wall, said margins being parallel to the side walls, eachsaid portion having a semicircular cutaway area in its inner lateralmargin opposite a semicircular cutaway area in the other, said cutawayshaving a center located equidistantly from the longitudinal margins ofsaid top portions and equidistantly between the outer lateral margins ofsaid top portions; a bushing of generally cylindrical shape having acircumferential groove in its cylindrical exterior surface, ahemispherical end, an inner cylindrical surface intersecting said end ina circular opening concentric with the axis of the exterior and interiorcylindrical surfaces, an inner frusto conical surface coaxial with andintersecting at its least diameter said inner cylindrical surface andintersecting at its greatest diameter the end of said bushing oppositesaid hemispherical end, said bushing being mounted at itscircumferential groove in said semicircular cutaway areas and dividedinto halves at a plane through its axis; a pair of intermediateportions, each extending inwardly from an outer lateral margin at eachside wall and having an inner lateral margin meeting the inner lateralmargin halves of the bushing parallel to the dividing of theintermediate portion extending inwardly from the opposite side wallalong a line equidistant from the side walls; a rectangular recess inthe inner margin of one of said intermediate portions located betweenlongitudinal margins of said portion; a rectangular projection at theinner margin of the other of said intermediate portions and fittinglyextending into the rectangular recess in said one portion to preventrelative movement between said plane, said halves of the bushing beingbiased together.

2. A die for use in the coating of wires and comprising: a pair of,upright side walls spaced apart; a bottom portion disposed between saidwalls; an opening into a longitudinal margin of the bottom portion; apair of top portions, each extending inwardly from an outer lateralmargin at a side wall, and having an inner lateral margin facing theinner lateral margin of the top portion extending inwardly from theopposite side wall, said margins being parallel to the side walls, eachsaid portion having a semicircular cutaway area in its inner lateralmargin opposite a semicircular cutaway area in the other, a bushing ofgenerally cylindrical shape having a circumferential groove in itscylindrical exterior surface, a hemispherical end, an inner cylindricalsurface intersecting said end in a circular opening concentric with theaxis of the exterior and interior cylindrical surfaces, an inner frustoconical surface coaxial with and intersecting at its least diameter saidinner cylindrical surface and intersecting at its great est diameter theend of said bushing opposite said hemi: spherical end, said bushingbeing mounted at its circurnferential groove in said semicircularcutaway areas and divided into halves at a plane through its axis; apair of intermediate portions, each extending inwardly from an outerlateral margin at each side wall and having an inner lateral marginmeeting the inner lateral margin of the intermediate portion extendinginwardly from the opposite side wall along a line equidistant from theside walls; a rectangular recess in the inner margin of one of saidintermediate portions located between longitudinal margins of saidportion; a rectangular projection at the inner margin of the other ofsaid intermediate portions and fittingly extending into the rectangularrecess in said one portion to prevent relative movement between saidhalves of the bushing parallel to the dividing plane, said halves of thebushing being biased together.v

- 3. A die for use in the coating of wires and comprising: a pair ofupright side walls spaced apart; a bottom portion disposed between saidwalls; a pair of top portions, each extending inwardly from an outerlateral margin at a side wall, and having an inner lateral margin facingthe inner lateral margin of the top portion extending inwardly from theopposite side wall, said margins being parallel to the side walls, eachsaid portion having a semicircular cutaway area in its inner lateralmargin opposite a semicircular cutaway area in the other, a bushinghaving a circumferential groove in its exterior surface, said bushingbeing mounted at its circumferential groove in said semicircular cutawayareas and divided into halves at a plane through its axis; a pair ofintermediate portions, each extending inwardly from an outer lateralmargin at each side wall and having an inner lateral margin meeting theinher lateral margin of the intermediate portion extending inwardly fromthe opposite side wall along a line equidistant from the side walls; arectangular recess in the inner margin of one of said intermediateportions located between longitudinal margins of said portion; arectangular projection at the inner margin of the other of saidintermediate portions and fittingly extending into the rectangularrecess in said one portion to prevent relative movement between saidhalves of the bushing parallel to the dividing plane, said halves of thebushing being biased together.

4. A die for use in the coating of wires and comprising: a pair ofupright side walls spwed apart; a bottom portion disposed between saidwalls; a pair of top portions, each extending inwardly from an outerlateral margin at a side wall, and having an inner lateral margin facingthe inner lateral margin of the top portion extending inwardly from theopposite Slide wall, said margins being parallel to the side walls, eachsaid portion having a semicircular cutaway area in its inner lateralmargin opposite a semicircular cutaway area in the other; a bushinghaving a circumferential groove in its exterior surface, said bushingbeing mounted at its circumferential groove in said semicircular cutawayareas and divided into halves at a plane through its axis; a pair ofportions, each extending inwardly from an outer lateral margin at eachside wall and having an inner lateral margin adjacent the inner lateralmargin of the intermediate portion extending inwardly from the oppositeside wall; a recess in the inner margin of one of said portions; aprojection at the inner margin of the other of said portions andfittingly extending into the recess in said one portion to preventrelative movement between said halves of the bushing parallel to thedividing Jlane, said halves of the bushing being biased together.

5. A die for use in the coating of wires and comprising: a pair ofupright side Walls spaced apart; a bottom portion disposed between saidwalls; a pair of top portions, each extending inwardly from an outerlateral margin at a side wall, and having an inner lateral margin facingthe inner lateral margin of the top portion extending inwardly from theopposite side walls, said margins being parallel to the side walls, eachsaid portion having a cutaway area in its inner lateral margin oppositea cutaway area in the other; a bushing mounted in said cutaway areas anddivided into halves at a plane through an axis; a pair of intermediateportions, each extending inwardly from an outer lateral margin at eachside wall and having an inner lateral margin meeting the inner lateralmargin of the intermediate portion extending inwardly from the oppositeside wall along a line equidistant from the side walls; a rectangularrecess in the inner margin of one of said intermediate portions locatedbetween longitudinal margins of said portions; a rectangular projectionat the inner margin of the other of said intermediate portions andfittingly extending into the rectangular recess in said one portion toprevent relative movement between said halves of the bushing parallel tothe dividing plane, said halves of the bushing being biased together.

6. A die for use in the coating of wires and comprising: a pair ofupright side walls spaced apart; a bottom portion disposed between saidwalls; a pair of top portions, each extending inwardly from an outerlateral margin at a side wall, and having an inner lateral margin facingthe inner lateral margin of the top portion extending inwardly from theopposite side wall, said margins being parallel to the side walls, eachsaid portion having a cutaway area in its inner lateral margin oppositea cutaway area in the other; a bushing in said cutaway areas and dividedinto halves at a plane through an axis; a pair of portions, eachextending inwardly from an outer lateral margin at each side wall andhaving an inner lateral margin adjacent the inner lateral marginadjacent lateral margin adjacent the inner lateral margin of theintermediate portion extending inwardly from the opposite side wall; arecess in the inner margin of one of said portions; a projection at theinner margin or the other of said portions and fittingly extending intothe recess in said one portion to prevent relative movement between saidhalves of the bushing parallel to the dividing plane, said halves of thebushing being biased together.

7. A die for use in the coating of wires and comprising: a pair ofupright side walls spaced apart; a bottom portion disposed between saidwalls; a pair of top portions, each extending inwardly from an outerlateral marginat a side wall, and having an inner lateral margin facingthe inner lateral margin of the top portion extending inwardly from theopposite side wall, each said 5 portion having a cutaway area in itsinner lateral margin opposite a cutaway area in the other; a bushing ofgenerally cylindrical shape having a circumferential groove in itscylindrical exterior surface, a hemispherical end, an inner cylindricalsurface intersecting said end in a circular opening concentric with theaxis of the exterior and interior cylindrical surfaces, an inner frustoconical surface coaxial with and intersecting at its least diameter,said inner cylindrical surface and intersecting at its greatest diameterthe end of said bushing opposite said hemispherical end, said bushingbeing mounted at its circumferential groove in said cutaway areas anddivided into halves at a plane through its axis; a pair of intermediateportions, each extending inwardly from an outer lateral margin at eachside wall and having an inner lateral margin meeting the inner lateralmargin of the intermediate portion extending inwardly from the oppositeside wall along a line equidistant from the side walls; a rectangularrecess in the inner mangin of one of said intermediate portions locatedbetween longitudinal margins of said portion; a rectangular projectionat the inner margin of the other of said intermediate portions andfittingly extending into the rectangular recess in said one portion toprevent relative movement between said halves of the bushing parallel tothe dividing plane, said halves of the bushing being biased together.

8. A die for use in the coating of wires and comprising: a pair ofupright side walls spaced apart; a bottom portion disposed between saidwalls; a pair of top portions, each extending inwardly from an outerlateral margin at a side wall, and having an inner lateral margin facingthe inner lateral margin of the top portion extending inwardly from theopposite side wall, each said portion having a cutaway area in its innerlateral margin opposite a cutaway area in the other; a bushing in saidcutaway areas and divided into halves at a plane through an axis; a pairof portions, each extending inwardly from an outer lateral margin ateach side wall and having an inner lateral margin adjacent the innerlateral margin of the intermediate portion extending inwardly from theopposite side walls; a recess in the inner margin of one of saidportions; a projection at the inner margin of the other of said portionsand fittingly extending into the recess in said one portion to preventrelative movement between said halves of the bushing parallel to thedividing plane, said halves of the bushing being biased together.

9. A die for use in the coating of wires and comprising: a pair ofupright side walls spaced apart; a bottom portion disposed between saidwalls; a pair of top portions, each extending inwardly from an outerlateral margin at a side wall, and having an inner lateral margin facingthe inner lateral margin of the top portion extending inwardly from theopposite side wall, each said portion having a cutaway area in its innerlateral margin opposite a cutaway area in the other; a bushing ofgenerally cylindrical shape having an inner surface coaxial with itsexterior surface, said bushing being mounted in said cutaway areas anddivided at a plane intersecting its inner surface; a pair of portions,each extending inwardly firom an outer lateral margin at each side walland having an inner lateral margin adjacent the inner lateral margin ofthe portion extending inwardly fnorn the opposite side wall; a recess inthe inner margin of one of said portions; a projection at the innermargin of the other of said portions and fittingly extending into therecess in said one portion to prevent relative movement between thedivisions of the bushing parallel to the dividing plane, said halves ofthe bushing being biased together.

10. A die for use in the coating of wires and comprising: a pair onupright side walls spaced apart; a bottom portion disposed between saidwalls; a pair of top portions, each extending inwardly from an outerlateral margin at a side wall, and having an inner lateral margin facingthe inner lateral margin of the top portion extending inwardly from theopposite side wall, each said port-ion having a cutaway area in itsinner lateral margin opposite a cutaway area in the other; a bushinghaving a passageway therethrough, said bushing being mounted in saidcutaway areas and divided at a plane intersecting its passageway; a pairof portions, each extending inwardly from an outer lateral margin ateach side wall and having an inner lateral margin; a recess in the innermargin of one of said intermediate portions; a projection at the innermargin of the other of said pontions and fittingly extending into therecess in said one portion to prevent relative movement between thedivisions of the bushing parallel to the dividing plane, said halves ofthe bushing being biased together.

l l. A die for use in the coating of wires and comprising: a pair oigeneral'ly upright walls with a bottom portion disposed therebetween; apair of top portions, each extending inwardly from an outer lateralmargin at a wall; a bushing having a passageway therethrough, saidbushing being mounted to said top pontions and divided at a planeintersecting its passageway; md locking means to prevent relativemovement between divisions of the bushing parallel to the dividingplane, said halves of the bushing being biased together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS KolterSept. 10, 1946

10. A DIE FOR USE IN THE COATING OF WIRES AND COMPRISING: A PAIR OFUPRIGHT SIDE WALLS SPACED APART; A BOTTOM PORTION DISPOSED BETWEEN SAIDWALLS; A PAIR OF TOP PORTIONS, EACH EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM AN OUTERLATERAL MARGIN AT A SIDE WALL, AND HAVING AN INNER LATERAL MARGIN FACINGTHE INNER LATERAL MARGIN OF THE TOP PORTION EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM THEOPPOSITE SIDE WALL, EACH SAID PORTION HAVING A CUTAWAY AREA IN ITS INNERLATERAL MARGIN OPPOSITE A CUTAWAY AREA IN THE OTHER; A BUSHING HAVING APASSAGEWAY THERETHROUGH, SAID BUSHING BEING MOUNTED IN SAID CUTAWAYAREAS AND DIVIDED AT A PLANE INTERSECTING ITS PASSAGEWAY; A PAIR OFPORTIONS, EACH EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM AN OUTER LATERAL MARGIN AT EACHSIDE WALL AND HAVING AN INNER LATERAL MARGIN; A RECESS IN THE INNERMARGIN OF ONE OF SAID INTERMEDIATE PORTIONS; A PROJECTION AT THE INNERMARGIN OF THE OTHER OF SAID PORTIONS AND FITTINGLY EXTENDING INTO THERECESS IN SAID ONE PORTION TO PREVENT RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN THEDIVISIONS OF THE BUSHING PARALLEL TO THE DIVIDING PLANE, SAID HALVES OFTHE BUSHING BEING BIASED TOGETHER.